Once you’ve established that your computer should be able to run Windows Vista, prepare for installation by taking those of the following steps that are applicable to the type of installation you’re planning upgrade, new installation, or clean installation.

Back Up All Your Data Files

If you’re installing Windows Vista on a computer that already has an operating system installed, back up all your data files shortly before installation using your usual backup medium. For example, from Windows XP, use the Backup program Start All Programs Accessories System Tools Backup to back up your files to removable media.

Write Down Internet Connection Information

If you’re planning a new installation or clean installation rather than an upgrade, and you use a dial-up Internet connection, write down the information you need to create the connection: your ISP account username, your password, your ISP’s phone number, and your ISP’s primary and secondary DNS servers.

Plug In and Switch On All Hardware

Make sure that all the hardware you intend to use with the computer is attached to it and powered on. For example, if you’ll use a printer and scanner with the computer, make sure these devices are attached to the computer and powered on, so that Setup can detect them if it’s smart enough. If you’re installing Windows Vista on a laptop, make sure it’s plugged into an electric socket so that it won’t run out of power or put itself to sleep during the installation.

Use Windows Easy Transfer to Start Transferring Your Files and Settings Windows Vista includes a wizard for transferring files and settings from one computer or operating system to another. You don’t need to use this wizard, which is called Windows Easy Transfer, if you’re upgrading Windows XP to Windows Vista, because Windows automatically transfers all your settings when you perform an upgrade. But Windows Easy Transfer can save you a great deal of time when you want to transfer files and settings either to a new computer that’s running Windows Vista or to a new installation of Windows Vista on the same computer on which you’ve kept your previous installation of Windows as a dual-boot. For example, if you choose to test Windows Vista on a new partition before committing yourself to it, you can use Windows Easy Transfer to transfer your work environment to the new partition so that you can use your regular settings and files. In earlier versions of Windows, the wizard is called the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. It works in a similar way to the Windows Easy Transfer Wizard.

Establishing When to Run Windows Easy Transfer

When you need to run Windows Easy Transfer depends on how you’re moving to Windows Vista:

Upgrading Windows XP to Windows Vista You don’t need to run Windows Easy Transfer: Windows automatically transfers your settings from Windows XP to Windows Vista, and your files remain in place.

Moving to Windows Vista on a new computer Run Windows Easy Transfer once you’ve set up Windows Vista on the new computer. The easiest method is to connect your old computer to your new computer via a network or a USB Easy Transfer cable, but you can also copy your files to a CD, DVD, USB flash drive, or external hard disk, or to a network drive.

Installing Windows Vista as a dual-boot on the same computer Before installing Windows Vista, run Windows Easy Transfer on your old OS, and save your files to a CD, DVD, USB flash drive, an external hard disk, or to a network drive. After installing Windows Vista, run Windows Easy Transfer on Windows Vista, and bring in the files from the medium to which you saved them. Before you use Windows Easy Transfer, make sure you’ve connected any network drive you want to use, or that you have a removable disk or recordable CD or DVD ready. To transfer files and settings, you’ll need plenty of storage. You can save settings files to a floppy drive, but most data files will be too big.

Choosing the Files and Settings to Transfer

To use Windows Easy Transfer, follow these steps:

1. Insert the Windows Vista DVD. If your computer doesn’t automatically start running the DVD, open an Explorer window, navigate to the DVD, right-click, and choose AutoPlay from the context menu. Windows displays the Install Windows window.

2. Click the Transfer Files and Settings from Another Computer link. Windows launches the Windows Easy Transfer Wizard, which displays the Welcome to Windows Easy Transfer screen.

3. Click the Next button. If the wizard displays the Close Programs screen, telling you that you need to close some programs you’re running, click the Close All button.

4. The wizard displays the Choose How to Transfer Files and Settings to Your New Computer screen .

5. Click the appropriate button, and then make choices on the resulting screen which depends on the button you click:

Use an Easy Transfer Cable Click this button if you want to connect the two computers via a USB Easy Transfer cable. The wizard displays the Install the Easy Transfer Cable and Connect Your Computer screen. Connect the two computers via the cable. Windows Vista should automatically detect the cable, but you may need to load a driver for Windows XP or another earlier version of Windows. Depending on the cable, you may need to load a driver for Windows Vista as well.

Transfer Directly, Using a Network Connection Click this button if you want either to connect two computers via a network or to save files from one computer or operating system to a network drive from which you can then load them on another computer or operating system. The wizard displays the Choose How to Transfer Files and Settings over a Network screen. Click the Use a Network Connection button if you want to establish a direct network connection. If the wizard prompts you to let Windows Easy Transfer unblock itself from the firewall, click the Yes button, and then follow through the process of obtaining and entering a Windows Easy Transfer key a code that enables Windows Easy Transfer to establish a connection across the network. Click the Copy to and from a Network Location button if you want to save your files. The wizard displays the Choose a Network Location screen. Specify the folder to use you can use a local drive if you want, and optionally create a pass- word to protect your files from other people. Use a CD, DVD, or Other Removable Media Click this button if you want to save the files to a CD, DVD, USB flash drive, or external hard disk, or to a network drive. Windows displays the Choose How to Transfer Files and Program Settings screen. Click the CD but- ton, the USB Flash Drive button, or the External Hard Disk or to a Network Location button, and then use the resulting screen and optionally to create a password to protect the files.

6. Once you’ve chosen your transfer method and supplied the connection or media, the wizard displays the What Do You Want to Transfer to Your New Computer? screen .

7. Click the appropriate button:

All User Accounts, Files, and Settings Click this button if you’re migrating all users from the old computer or operating system to the new one.

My User Account, Files, and Settings Only Click this button if you’re the only user from this computer who will be using the new computer or operating system. For example, you might be moving each user to a separate computer.

Advanced Options Click this button if you want to transfer only specific files and settings. The wizard displays the Select User Accounts, Files, and Settings to Transfer screen . Use the check boxes and links to specify files to transfer, and then click the Next button.

8.The wizard displays the Please Wait until the Transfer Is Complete screen as it transfers the files and settings you specified.

9. When the wizard has finished running, click the Close button. For details of how to apply your saved files and settings to your new installation of Windows Vista, see “Transferring Your Files and Settings” later in this article.

Stop Any Antivirus Software, Disk Utilities, or Boot Managers

Stop any antivirus software or disk utilities before running the Windows installation, because the installation process needs direct access to your hardware. Disable or uninstall boot-manager software, or make sure that you know how to bypass it during the installation.